The young Toronto Maple Leafs are pushing hard on the Boston Bruins, as the only two Original Six teams in the NHL to make the postseason are squaring off in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal. The Leafs won the opener in Boston, but the Bruins roared back to take Game 2. When the series shifted north of the border, Toronto drew energy from the home crowd to win all of the loose puck battles, and the Leafs are now up 2-1. The key problem for Boston fans is the sloppy way that the Bruins dealt with the puck, as two of the three Toronto goals came when Boston either could not clear the puck or simply coughed it up. Can Boston get back to their disciplined ways that brought them a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division? Or will Toronto head back to Boston needing just one win to knock the Bruins out? We have your sports betting preview right here.
Bruins vs Maple Leafs 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds & Game 4 Preview
🎥 The B’s could have some reinforcements tonight when they battle the Maple Leafs in Game 4. Catch up on today’s pregame news in 60 seconds, pres. by @ZipRecruiter: pic.twitter.com/ObqYirPG6J
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 17, 2019
- When: Wednesday, April 17, 2019, 7:00pm ET
- Where: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- TV: NBC Sports
- Radio: WPRT 102.5 FM Nashville / KTCK 1310 AM Dallas
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Opening Hockey Odds: Toronto -125 / Boston +105
Why should you bet on Boston?
Charlie Coyle and Danton Heinen continue to shine as forwards for the Bruins, putting up plenty of effort and forechecking, and Boston has shown this season that they have what it takes to turn on the offense while also shoring up the back line. Toronto likes to attack off the periphery, and Boston needs to backcheck to avoid the sort of attack zone time that the Maple Leafs were able to put up.
Boston has won five of their last seven on the road — but just twice in their last seven as an underdog. They face a Toronto team that did sputter down the stretch in the regular season, as they had lost four in a row before winning Games 2 and 3. If you like Boston, you like goaltender Tuukka Rask to stand on his head and put together the sort of night that will frustrate Toronto, leading to the sort of opportunities on the back end that will create easy goals for the Bruins.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.13
- Shots: 32.88
- PP/PK Percentage: 26.15
- Goals: 2.62
- Shots: 29.58
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.32
Why should you put your money on Toronto?
Toronto has terrific top-line scoring in John Tavares and Auston Matthews, but it is their worker bees who have made the difference in the Leafs’ two wins in this series thus far. Consistency has been a major problem for Toronto this year, as they are 0-7 in their last seven games coming after a victory, and they have won just twice in their last seven games at home. However, they have done well against Boston at home the last couple of seasons, and they want to extend that trend in Game 4.
Toronto has also won 8 of 10 at home against Boston, so despite their recent struggles, the Leafs have figured out how to beat the Bruins on their ice. The Bruins have the edge on paper, particularly with regard to blueliners and in net, but for now the Leafs have been able to work around the Bruins’ system and score goals. If you like Toronto, you see them building on the momentum from Game 3 and drawing once again on the energy from their home crowd to take that crucial home win.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.46
- Shots: 33.33
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.56
- Goals: 3.04
- Shots: 33.31
- PP/PK Percentage: 20.66
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
I love the Bruins’ offense, but their sloppiness and their lack of consistent defense have betrayed them several years in a row now. Toronto is probably a year or two away from seriously contending to hoist the Stanley Cup, but their youth movement capitalizes on mistakes and turns them into goals. I see Boston standing tall to take Game 4, though, and go back home with the series knotted at two games apiece. Final Score: Boston 3, Toronto 2.
